U P F R O N T

No Snooze, No Lose
============================

A few deadline reminders...

Aug. 23 is the last day to combine miles from the AAdvantage and Dividend Miles programs to redeem for an award. It was nice while it lasted!

Beenz will be no more after Aug. 26 (see "Online Rewards Watch" below), so you'll want to redeem any Beenz you have earned before then.

Another victim of the dot-com implosion, Cybergold will close its digital doors on Aug. 31. All transactions must be completed prior to that date.

Hilton's popular double miles/double points promotion ends on Aug. 31.

And from Australia's Frequent Flyer Gazette, we hear that Qantas will be revising award levels beginning Sept. 15, 2001. Their advice (and we concur): for award trips within the next 12 months, booking before Sept. 15 could save you significant miles, in cases where the new mileage requirement will be raised. Frequent Flyer has provided a handy comparison chart of pre- and post-change levels at http://www.frequentflyer.com.au.

O N S I T E

Dine for Miles
==========================

If you're not participating in a dining-for-miles program, you're missing out on a chance to earn an easy 10 miles for every $1 charged (including tax and tip) at more than 7,000 participating restaurants.

The full story is online.

New on the FrequentFlier Forum
==========================

Ronald posted a handy FAQ on the AA 20/20 promotion. Jo Anne is seeking feedback on Milespree.com. Dora has advice (and horror stories) for those purchasing tickets through Orbitz and Travelocity. Dglawless qualified for the AA 20/20 promotion (using 20 AAdvantage partners before the end of Sept.). Way to go! And more...

Do you have questions, answers? Post them to the Forum!

> More...

M I L E S & P O I N T S

Partner Bonus Miles Count Toward WorldPerks Elite
====================================================

In a highly unusual (and welcome) move, Northwest is offering bonus miles for selected partner transactions, AND counting those miles toward elite qualification. (Normally, only flight miles count toward elite status.)

The promotion rewards WorldPerks members for doing business with more than 65 non-airline partners (including most hotel and car rental partners, Dining for Miles, eBags. FTD.com, etc.) with a 200% bonus -- up to 5,000 miles per member during the promotional period -- over and above the normal number of miles. The bonus miles will count toward 2002 elite status in the WorldPerks program.

To participate in this offer --

1 - Register at http://www.nwa.com/partnerbonus or by calling 1-888-955-7878, extension 3335, between Aug. 20 through Nov. 30, 2001. (Registration must take place prior to the qualifying flight.)

2 - Take a qualifying trip on Northwest or KLM between Aug. 20 and Nov 30, 2001.

3 - After a flight segment has been completed, the WorldPerks member will receive a 200% bonus mileage match towards Elite status on all miles earned from participating partners.

Offer valid for residents of the United States, Canada and Mexico.

> More...

Loans Earn Mileage Plus Miles
===========================

E-LOAN is offering Mileage Plus members miles-for-loans, plus a guarantee that their rates, points and fees are the lowest available. Their mileage offering is as follows--

 - Car Loan            3,500 miles
 - Home Equity Loan    1,250 miles per $10,000 borrowed
 - Home Mortgage       1,250 miles per $10,000 borrowed
 - Home Refinance      1,250 miles per $10,000 borrowed

                  

For more information, call 1-877-E-LOAN-YES or visit http://www.eloan.com/united.

Delta Discounts International Awards
====================================

Delta is discounting fall and winter awards -- for travel beginning as soon as Sept. 1 in some cases -- to selected overseas destinations in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean. Award tickets to these destinations have been reduced by up to 20,000 miles.

For a complete list of available destinations and travel dates, check Delta's website at http://www.delta.com/.

CO Offers 50%-Off Sale on L. America/Caribbean Awards
================================================

For travel through Nov. 15, 2001, OnePass members can obtain award tickets to select destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean for 17,500 miles, rather than the normally required 35,000.

For a complete list of discounted award destinations, see the OnePass website at http://onepass.continental.com/.

Marriott Says: Buy 3, Get 1 Free
===================================

Marriott is offering members of Marriott Rewards 1 free weekend night stay for every 3 weekend nights purchased at Marriott hotel brands between Sept. 14 and Dec. 23, 2001 -- up to a maximum of 3 free weekend nights. Nights spent earning the bonus need not be consecutive.

Members must register for Marriott's Rewarding Weekends at http://marriottrewards.com or by calling 1-866-300-3050.

Certificates for the free Friday, Saturday or Sunday night stays are valid through Dec. 31, 2002, at 8 Marriott brands, comprising nearly 2,000 hotels.

Columbus Residents Offered Triple Dividend Miles
==================================

US Airways is offering Dividend Miles members residing in the Columbus, Ohio area triple miles until Dec. 31, 2001.

If your Dividend Miles account shows a street address in the Columbus metro area, you'll receive triple the actual miles flown or triple the 500-mile minimum, whichever is greater, after each paid flight on US Airways, US Airways Shuttle, MetroJet or US Airways Express.

You must register for this offer at http://www.usairways.com/ before departing, or by calling 1-800-872-4738 and selecting bonus registration 8261.

Hawaii Packages Earn $100 + 3,000 AAdvantage Miles
==========================================

AAdvantage members who use a MasterCard to charge an American Airlines Vacations trip to Hawaii will receive a $100 MasterCard prepaid card and 3,000 AOL AAdvantage bonus miles.

To qualify, book a 5-night stay from American Airlines Vacations at participating hotels on the islands of Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and The Big Island of Hawaii by Sept. 30. Travel must begin Sept. 1 and be completed by Dec. 15, 2001.

> More...

Metropolitan Hotel Debuts M Club
=====================================

Metropolitan Hotel (formerly Loews New York Hotel) has launched a 3-tiered frequent-traveler program, the M Club. Benefits, including airline miles, vary according to tier, as follows--

Silver level: welcome amenity and 500 American AAdvantage or Midwest Express miles for each qualifying stay.

Gold level: guaranteed reservations with 72 hours advance notice, an upgrade to a business class room for $25 and 750 airline miles.

Platinum level: guaranteed reservations with 48 hours advance notice, an upgrade to a suite for $35, complimentary use of the business class lounge with breakfast and evening wine and cheese, a discount on other food and beverages, and 1,000 airline miles the first night and 250 each additional night.

> More...

Sephora.com Purchases Earn Bonus ClickMiles
=============================

ClickRewards members will earn 6 ClickMiles for every dollar spent at beauty-products merchant Sephora.com before Sept. 19, 2001. You'll also receive free shipping on orders over $60 and complementary gift packaging on all orders.

To receive ClickMiles for your purchases, you must click through from the ClickRewards site, http://clickrewards.com.

Online Rewards Watch: Beenz
=============================

Another online currency bites the dust... This time it's the loveable (but financially untenable) Beenz. Their website says it all:

"Pursuant to the Terms and Conditions - Membership Agreement of beenz.com, the operation of the beenz economy will be terminated at 12:01 am (Eastern Standard Time - EST) on August 26, 2001. No beenz earning or spending transactions will be honored after that date and time. Any beenz remaining in a Member's account after 12:01 am (EST) on August 26, 2001 will be invalidated by beenz.com, and the Member will not be entitled to any compensation of any kind for such invalidated beenz."

S T E A L S & D E A L S

Deal Alert from SmarterLiving.com
=================================

This week's hot deals from SmarterLiving.com...

Sale Fares Between the Northeast and the West From $188 R/T
-------------------------------
JetBlue has released sale fares for travel between Northeastern cities, including Washington (Dulles), and cities in the West. Fares are valid for travel between Sept. 4 and Nov. 7. Purchase tickets no later than Wednesday, Aug. 29.

> More...

Southern California Savings From American
--------------------------------
American Airlines has released a sale featuring cities in Southern California. Departure is valid through Nov. 8, and all travel must be completed by Nov. 15. Purchase tickets at least 14 days before departure and no later than Monday, Aug. 27.

> More...

S W E E P S T A K E S & F R E E B I E S

Delta, Yahoo Sweepstakes Offers Tickets, Miles
======================================

Between Aug. 20 and Oct. 8, 2001, Delta and Yahoo will give away 100 tickets plus 18 mileage prizes (3,000 5,000 and 10,000 miles) every day.

To participate, enter your SkyMiles membership number at http://promo.yahoo.com/delta/.

[Thanks to David for posting this on the Forum.]

Until next week...